Recalled alfalfa sprouts linked to E. coli, Salmonella outbreak in Iowa and 14 other states

At least 55 people across 15 states, including Iowa, have fallen ill in a multistate outbreak of E. coli and Salmonella linked to recalled alfalfa sprouts, federal health officials announced this week.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reported that 46 people were infected with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, seven with Salmonella, and two with both bacteria. Four people have been hospitalized, and no deaths have been reported.

The FDA and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), working with state and local partners, identified alfalfa sprouts distributed by Everything Sprouts LLC of Minneapolis, Minnesota, as the source of the illnesses based on epidemiological and traceback evidence.

Which states are affected by the sprout recall?

According to a CDC map, the illnesses were reported in Florida, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Washington, and Wisconsin. Cases began between May 31 and August 8.

FDA warns consumers not to eat recalled sprouts

The sprouts were sold under the Calco and Everything Sprouts brands at retailers, grocery stores, restaurants, and other food-service businesses.

The FDA is urging consumers not to eat, sell, or serve the affected alfalfa sprouts. Anyone who has the recalled products at home should throw them away or return them to the place of purchase.

The agency also advises consumers, restaurants, and retailers to thoroughly clean and sanitize surfaces and containers that came into contact with the sprouts to reduce the risk of cross-contamination. The FDA stated that the investigation is ongoing to determine the source of contamination and whether additional products or firms are linked to the illnesses.

State and local public health officials have been interviewing people about the foods they ate in the week before they got sick. Of the 34 people interviewed, 26 (76 percent) reported eating alfalfa sprouts.

Two people infected with both bacteria

The outbreak involves multiple strains of E. coli as well as Salmonella Agona. The two people who contracted both Salmonella and E. coli are among the 55 reported cases.

The FDA began an inspection and sample collection at Everything Sprouts on August 19 as investigators worked to determine how the contamination occurred and whether other products or companies could be involved.

FDA previously flagged problems at the facility

The FDA had warned Everything Sprouts of “serious violations” following an inspection of its facility last year, according to ABC News. Inspectors reported roof leaks that allowed water to drip onto produce and clean employee smocks, as well as a “build-up of black organic matter” on a hose used in the overhead irrigation system.

The FDA has not said that those previous inspection findings caused the current outbreak.

What are the symptoms of E. coli and Salmonella?

Symptoms of E. coli infection

The FDA reports that symptoms of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli infection can begin within a few days of eating contaminated food, although they may take up to nine days to appear. Common symptoms include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, fever, nausea, and vomiting.

Some infections can cause severe bloody diarrhea and, in serious cases, lead to hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), a potentially life-threatening form of kidney failure. Other complications can include high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and neurological problems.

Symptoms of Salmonella infection

Salmonella symptoms typically develop within 12 to 72 hours of eating contaminated food and usually last between four and seven days. They can include diarrhea, fever, and abdominal cramps.

Young children, older adults, and people with weakened immune systems are at greater risk of developing serious Salmonella infections.

Why sprouts can carry bacteria

Sprouts can carry harmful bacteria because the warm, moist conditions needed for sprouting can also allow pathogens to grow if they are present. The FDA said sprouts have been associated with 52 reported foodborne illness outbreaks in the U.S. between 1996 and 2020.

The current investigation is continuing, and the FDA said its outbreak notice will be updated as more information becomes available.